Big Boy Bed

We finally broke down and got Harrison in a toddler bed last week. I saw one on freecycle and figured it was time. he LOVES his new bed (jumping on it, off it, throwing his animals and blankets, etc...sometimes sleeping...) and so far has NOT gotten up in the middle of hte night to come visit mommy and daddy KNOCK ON WOOD (not that he doesn't wake up plenty of times to ask for milk, complain that he lost his binky, or beg us to put him in "new jammies" but that's another story...)

Next up, potty training!! I've put next Saturday on my calendar to give this a try, so we'll see how that pans out... after all, don't want to have to deal with two little monkeys in cribs OR diapers come October :)

Harrison's First Parade!

(waiting for the fun to start--no, we don't go anywhere without the monkey leash)

A few weekends ago we went downtown for the Cherry Blossom Festival parade and had a great time. The weather was cool but cooperated and Harrison loved watching the bands and ballons and other fun stuff in the parade--he was content to be held or on Daddy's shoulders for the whole first half (which is great for him) and afterwards we checked out the natural history museum for a bit. I love it when we get to do fun stuff like this!

Harrison and I passed the time before it started by making some silly faces for the camera. Luckily Cory's phone has a camera option where we can see ourselves which is about the only way I can get him to look and smile without saying..."I see it!!" and running around to the other side of the camera...

Dancers

A cool band from DC

Drummers--pretty awesome

My favorite was the revolutionary war era band

And of course no parade is complete without a huge balloon of yogi bear :)

because I agree... A LOT (and to get that gross picture of me away from the top..)

My good friend Betsey wrote this on her blog today and linked to another great blog post. I am so impressed by Betsey and her willingness to share her experiences because this is something I know mothers (ME) deal with ALL THE TIME. Why do we criticize each other? Whether veiled or obvious there is nothing to be gained from pointing fingers at someone's ability to parent in an effort to feel better about your own. But it is so easy to fall into the trap because being a mother is so important and personal to all of us. And I think pretty much everyone loves their kids more than life itself, so when someone doubts the choices we make with respect to those kids it can be devastating and beyond easy to get defensive and feel the need to jump in the fray. Whether this is in big choices families make (whether mom is going to work, stay home, have a nanny, live-in, live-out, housekeeper, whatever) or little things (pacifiers, processed foods, formula, plastic bottles, discipline, diapers, organic freaking crib mattresses that cost like $400 for crying out loud...) how much do we make choices because of what is best for our kids and how often is it about comparing ourselves to someone else? Last night I just about broke down and got WAY too upset with harrison because he refused to brush or let me brush his teeth. Was it because I was really concerned about his dental hygiene or was it because I was thinking of all the "perfect parents" I know and the fact that I'm SO SURE their kids always brush their teeth and couldn't figure out why my kid wasn't doing and where I had gone so wrong? Sheesh. Let's get over it. Here's my reminder to try. I hope I can be a better mother and a better to support to my friends regardless of what parenting paths they go down.

Just to prove we were there :)

We went down to visit the Cherry Blossoms on Friday night after work. It was actually a great time---the pictures don't really reflect that because it was super cold and windy and we were trying to keep ourselves warm...(and I'm not sure who those people are, but aren't the trees AMAZING!!!??) what's up with this winter weather in spring??? Harrison loved the beautiful trees, looking in the water, seeing the ducks "sleeping" in the grass, and going on the "metro train." Fun stuff. Plus we got to see where Cory works which was a treat--if you ask me anyone who gets to work where people go on vacation is super lucky. The National Geographic museum looks pretty freaking awesome--where are those free tickets, honey?

In other news, Harrison's new favorite expression is "just a minute..." he's getting us back for all those times we said it to him...this is his response any time we ask him to do something he doesn't want to do---Cute for awhile, getting old FAST :)